A rare Asian visitor to Western North America. Alternate Adult is like American Pipit but has heavy black streaks on sides, pale streaks on back, and orange-red wash on head, throat, and upper breast. Males tend to be more brightly colored on the face. Basic Adults and immatures are nearly identical; upperparts are earthy-brown with bold blackish and white streaking, thin whitish wingbars, breast and flanks are washed with buff and heavily streaked with dusky-brown. Head shows a pale buffy supercilium, warm reddish-brown auriculars, and a white throat bordered by a broad black lateral throat stripes. Legs are pinkish. American Pipit is never so heavily streaked on the back; also note range and voice.

Length: 16 (cm) Wingspan: 26 (cm)

Habitat:

Open fields, grasslands, beaches, dry reservoirs. Breeds on tundra.

Behavior:

Nest is a cup on the ground among marshy vegetation. Many North American records accompany flocks of American Pipits.

Feeding:

Forages by walking along ground, pecking at a variety of insects and occasional seeds.